strategic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "strategic" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means relating to a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim. Example sentence: Our company has adopted a strategic approach to expanding our business internationally.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After 9/11 Uzbekistan became a close strategic partner of the US, providing military facilities and transit routes to support US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

"GMG is entering a new period of growth, thanks to the strategic leadership of Andrew Miller and Alan Rusbridger.

The Guardian

Iran is sending arms to Assad because they know his downfall would be a strategic defeat for them.

The New York Times

"As AMC Networks has expanded internationally, we have had a great desire to do something we consider fundamentally strategic, which is to take our content and put it on channels we own," said Sapan.

The Guardian

Privately, Cameron is still waiting to hear more clearly from the hesitant Obama about what his strategic thinking might be.

The Guardian

He added: "After a comprehensive review I've determined that we can ensure the security of America and our allies – and maintain a strong and credible strategic deterrent – while reducing our deployed strategic nuclear weapons by up to one-third".

The Guardian

In a foreign policy speech in Sydney on Sunday following the G20 summit, Merkel sounded deeply despondent about Putin's policies and behaviour and gloomy about the prospects of forcing a strategic shift from the Kremlin.

The Guardian

Michie points to examples of best practice such as the strategic projects team at NHS Midlands and East, which helps commissioners to work more effectively through collaboration: "One of the challenges commissioners have is that they're unlikely to have the skill sets they need in one organisation but can as a team," she says.

The Guardian

Unless dramatic measures are taken, and fast, Labour will continue to be punished for the strategic error of neglecting its machinery in Scotland and for taking voters for granted.

The Guardian - Opinion

His biggest strategic miscalculation was not to use the leverage he had over George Bush as the only substantial western ally to join the 2003 invasion – the "coalition of the willing" – to extract a better plan for the occupation of Saddam Hussein's ill-governed state once the fighting was over (even sooner than expected).

The Guardian

Dave Forsey, chief executive of the UK's largest sports retailer, said: "We have a history of strategic stakes and that may or may not continue".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing business decisions, use "strategic" to emphasize a long-term plan aligned with the company's overall goals.

Common error

Avoid using "strategic" when you actually mean "tactical". "Strategic" refers to long-term, overarching plans, while "tactical" refers to short-term actions to achieve immediate goals.

Linguistic Context

The word "strategic" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a relationship to strategy or long-term planning. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English. Examples include "strategic partnership" and "strategic review".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "strategic" is widely used to describe elements related to a well-thought-out plan designed to achieve a long-term goal. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. As an adjective, it typically modifies nouns, emphasizing the intentional and planned nature of the modified element. Common contexts include news, media, and formal business settings, where it highlights decisions, partnerships, or resources that are crucial for achieving overarching objectives. Remember to distinguish "strategic" from "tactical" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

calculated

Suggests careful planning and anticipation of outcomes, similar to "strategic" but with more emphasis on prediction.

tactical

Focuses on immediate actions and methods, rather than the broader, long-term planning implied by "strategic".

well-thought-out

Emphasizes careful consideration and planning, with a slightly more informal tone than "strategic".

key

Highlights the essential nature of something, differing from "strategic" by not necessarily implying a deliberate plan.

critical

Emphasizes the importance and necessity of something, rather than focusing on a planned approach.

planned

Focuses on the action of planning, whereas "strategic" describes the nature or quality of a plan.

essential

Similar to "critical" but emphasizes fundamental importance.

vital

Highlights indispensable qualities, lacking the planning aspect of "strategic".

deliberate

Highlights intentional and careful consideration, omitting the planning context of "strategic".

long-term

Focuses on the extended duration of a plan, removing the element of deliberate design in "strategic".

FAQs

How to use "strategic" in a sentence?

You can use "strategic" to describe plans, alliances, or locations that are important for achieving a long-term goal. For example: "The company developed a "strategic partnership" to expand its market share."

What can I say instead of "strategic"?

You can use alternatives like "critical", "key", or "tactical" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "strategic planning" or "strategy planning"?

"Strategic planning" is the correct and more common term. It emphasizes the long-term, comprehensive nature of the planning process.

What's the difference between "strategic" and "important"?

"Strategic" implies a deliberate plan to achieve a specific goal, while "important" simply means having significance or value. A location might be "important" due to its resources, but it's "strategic" if it's part of a plan to control a region.